Last year in Week 13, Dante Pettis came out of nowhere to score 27 fantasy points while Zay Jones and Jaron Brown also ended up among the top five receivers. Meanwhile, Chase Edmonds vulture David Johnson twice and ended up in the top 10 running backs along with Jeff Wilson of the 49ers. At quarterback, Josh Allen, Derek Carr and Nick Mullens all surprised with top six weeks. Over at tight end, it was more of the same with Demetrius Harris, Jordan Thomas and Levine Toilolo ending up in the top six.
The point is that while everything you are about to read may seem crazy, this is a league where crazy things happen every week. I am merely trying to forecast which scenarios are possible in advance like last week when we hyped up Raheem Mostert and Latavius Murray while trying to talk everyone out of playing Dak Prescott.
I’ll be posting this article every Saturday, and while these are all players I feel strongly about for the week, these are not my projections by any means. Rather, a bold prediction is something that most people would say has less than 10% chance of happening, but I’ll give it two or even three times better odds. So perhaps use one of these guys in a DFS GPP or if you need help breaking a tie on a start/sit decision.
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#1 Andy Dalton will be a top 10 quarterback
It may be tough to believe because the Bengals have been so bad, but despite matchup versus SF, BUF, PIT, BAL and SEA, Dalton has 17+ fantasy points in all but two contests (15 vs BAL and 5 vs PIT). Much of this has been volume-driven, of course, with 42 attempts per game. With another useful game script in an uptempo game against a terrible secondary (the Jets), he could again find his way into 20+ fantasy points.
Final Prediction: 30/46, 327 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 1 rush, 4 yds
#2 LeSean McCoy will finish among the top 15 running backs
Damien Williams is out, but he wasn’t much of a concern anyways, as McCoy had twice as many snaps and four times as many touches in the Chiefs’ last game. Darrell Williams had the majority of the touches because Kansas City was easing McCoy back in. Now that he had a full week to rest, it is expected that he’ll assume the bulk of the workload. With a positive game script in front of him and a struggling defense opposing him, that could lead to a plenty useful fantasy performance.
Final Prediction: 12 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD
#3 Jamison Crowder will end up outside the top 50 receivers
Yes, the Bengals have 0 wins but their secondary hasn’t actually been that bad when everyone is healthy. Crowder, meanwhile, does have some quality games this season but he also has some stinkers. Like, a lot of them (4 for 40 vs CLE, 2 for 25 vs NE, 2 for 10 vs PHI, 4 for 26 vs NE, 3 for 24 vs JAC and 2 for 18 last week vs OAK). Yikes. He is by no means a lock to go off this week like everyone seems to believe.
Final Prediction: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 29 yards
#4 Darius Slayton will again finish among the top 24 wideouts
Golden Tate has been ruled out which means Sterling Shepard will move back into the slot like last season. While that would typically be good, it’s unfortunate for Shepard because the Packers’ best cornerback awaits him there. That should lead to more targets for Slayton against an otherwise lackluster secondary. When Slayton has seen targets, he has been great this season and the targets should come in bunches with another useful game script likely lined up for the Giants this weekend.
Final Prediction: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
#5 Auden Tate will snatch two touchdowns against the Jets
Much like Slayton above, Tate benefits from the Bengals primary receiver taking on a very difficult matchup in the slot. Brian Poole will be lined up on Tyler Boyd all game and the rest of their secondary is abysmal. With Andy Dalton back and both John Ross and A.J. Green still out, Tate should have his biggest game in the season in this up-tempo shootout of a game.
Final Prediction: 9 targets, 6 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TDs
The Other Half
#6 Deshaun Watson won’t finish among the top 20 QBs (The Patriots have crushed every QB except L-Jax)
Final Prediction: 15 for 28, 153 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
#7 Nick O’Leary will be a top 10 tight end (Foles loves tight ends + great matchup)
Final Prediction: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
#8 Austin Ekeler will finish outside the top 40 RBs (Less than 9 touches in 3 of 6 games since Gordon returned)
Final Prediction: 4 carries, 11 yards, 5 receptions, 25 yards
#9 Ronald Jones will rush for 120 yards (Jags have been horrendous against RBs lately)
Final Prediction: 16 carries, 122 yds, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 15 yds
#10 Tyler Higbee will be a top 10 tight end too (Everett out + ideal matchup vs ARZ)
Final Prediction: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD
Thanks for reading and happy football season!
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